Here are 17 thoughts on the Capitals as they go on the All-Star break.

The Washington Capitals aren't where they hoped they'd be going into the All-Star Break — but there's still hope.

Washington dropped all four games on a critical road swing that has season-defining potential, securing just one of eight possible points after a miraculous comeback effort in the final two minutes of regulation in Dallas on Saturday.

Now, there's quite a bit of time for the team to go home, go on vacation, reflect and come back for a major push in the second half.

Here are 17 Things to ponder as we enter the All-Star Break.

17 Things

1. The Capitals are by no means impressed with how that road trip went, though Saturday's game showed some of that grit and relentlessness that will play major roles in the second half. Washington was outscored 19-9, and all but one of their goals came in the final minutes of regulation. As Rasmus Sandin put it, the team needed 60 minutes of good hockey and didn't get that over the course of each game.

When it comes to where things stand now, D.C. is just five points out of third place in the Metro behind the Philadelphia Flyers and six points out of a Wild Card spot (it's fun how standings work), so not all hope is lost. But a better performance could've had the team singing a much different tune at this point in time.

2. That said, Washington promised a better showing in the second half, and the group knows it's crunch time. "We're going to put in the work and get back in," head coach Spencer Carbery told reporters in Dallas.

There's also the incentive to play for each other with the trade deadline a few weeks out; players prefer to stick together, and the room is tight-knit. Avoiding another sell-off and saying goodbye to old friends is a lot of motivation.

3. Speaking of the trade deadline, The Daily Faceoff's Frank Seravalli reports that Nic Dowd will be a hot commodity on the market. He's one of the league's top defensive forwards when it comes to advanced analytics, and he's been chipping in offensively and putting in a full effort night in and night out while playing a critical role in driving a powerhouse fourth line and killing penalties to boot.

He has one year left on his deal at $1.3 million, and his value has the potential to bring in a higher draft pick. If it's a first, I can definitely see the Capitals pulling the trigger there, though if this team manages to start the second half strong and get back in playoff territory, it's better to have him around for a push.

4. That said, there's no surefire approach to the deadline yet, but if things continue to trend this way, it'll be time to sell. Dowd will be a target, as will Anthony Mantha, who's picked up his play and has 15 goals on the season, putting him on pace for a career-high 27. Max Pacioretty, Joel Edmundson and Nicolas Aube-Kubel are all pending UFAs who may also draw interest if that's the approach.

I could also see the Capitals addressing their eight defensemen and perhaps exploring options regarding Nick Jensen and Trevor van Riemsdyk, who's been struggling and alternating scratches with Ethan Bear, who surprisingly got the seat on this trip with the blue line looking for answers.

5. Speaking of Pacioretty, the 35-year-old suffered a major scare on Saturday as he left the ice with a lower-body injury. It's not related to his Achilles tendon, though, which he tore twice in a span of five months and just spent the last 11 months rehabilitating before making his triumphant return. His agent, Allan Walsh, also said that Pacioretty will be back in the lineup for when D.C. returns from break.

6. I'd also expect that this break will be great for Sonny Milano, who has been out since Dec. 9 and has missed the last 23 straight games with an upper-body injury. It's my understanding that there weren't any setbacks for Milano, per se, but his recovery just hasn't progressed the way he hoped.

It's my belief that he was hurt on Dec. 9 against the New York Rangers when he was spun around on a hit by Jacob Trouba. Whether that's 100 percent certain, I'm not sure.

7. Another player who will enjoy the break: Alex Ovechkin. Prior to a final home game against the St. Louis Blues and this four-game road swing, the 38-year-old missed three games due to a lingering lower-body injury. It was not related to his collision with Jordan Staal on Jan. 5, though a slew of game-time decisions followed that game and incident. Getting extra rest should be helpful, especially if that injury has been bothering him for some time, and given the numbers, it's possible.

8. Ovechkin did close out his first half with a bang, scoring his ninth goal of the season on a very Ovi-esque shot from the point. Watching him, I've noticed that he's passing first before shooting on several chances, and the hope is that perhaps some more rest can help him recover and come back stronger for the second half, where he's famously done quite a bit of damage.

9. Per Monumental Sports Network's Tarik El-Bashir, Ovechkin informed the Capitals earlier this season that he preferred not to play in the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend with the hope of getting rest.

10. With Ovechkin, the team's leading point scorer along with Dylan Strome, not attending, Tom Wilson is Washington's representative for the festivities in his hometown of Toronto. His family will be in attendance for his second ASG appearance in three years. He also holds the record for the fastest goal in ASG history, which came 13 seconds into his debut.

11. The league has its own reasons for player selections, and Strome not getting to attend is a bit of a tough break for the 26-year-old. He has 19 goals and 12 assists for 31 points this season and has been an absolute force and the go-to top-line center for D.C. I wouldn't use the word snub, as Wilson also earned his way with his play, but Strome's time will come.

12. Speaking of top-line centers, that's exactly what Washington is missing. The Capitals don't have a legitimate top elite playmaker and haven't had one since the 2018 Stanley Cup run when Evgeny Kuznetsov was playing at his peak and Nicklas Backstrom was still in top form. Going forward, that's a need for D.C., as the offense is failing to click, Connor McMichael is not at No. 1 center status yet and Kuznetsov — though he has three points in his last three games — has not been able to maintain consistency.

13. The Athletic's Shayna Goldman suggested the Capitals keep their eye on a certain player that could end up on the trade market, and that's Anaheim Ducks center Trevor Zegras.

There are no official reports linking the two officially, but he would be an interesting player. The 22-year-old is dealing with an injury and has struggled this season, but has back-to-back 60-point seasons and is still just getting started. It'd take a big return, but it would be an interesting inquiry, at the very least.

14. Going back to Backstrom: having him on the road trip was at least a morale booster. No one can deny 19's on-ice impact over his career in D.C., but off the ice, he means a lot to the group as a mentor, calming voice and leader.

15. On the topic of the aforementioned centers, Kuznetsov started to show flashes of his ability on this road trip as he and Mantha united on the third line. There were some questionable plays and inconsistencies, but as stated, he has three points in his last five games and was more noticeable offensively.

I still think this team waits until the offseason to address the situation due to his cap hit and term. Given the way things have been trending, I personally can't see him staying in the District — that's just my opinion, though, and not to be taken as gospel.

16. The AHL All-Star Game is coming up, and the Capitals' AHL-affiliate Hershey Bears will have quite a few representatives, with Todd Nelson coaching and head athletic trainer Shawn Fliszar and assistant equipment manager Dillon Filepas also in attendance. Meanwhile, McIlrath wearing a "C" and Clay Stevenson and Ethen Frank representing. Frank will also get a crack at re-breaking his fastest skater record.

I still think it's wild that Pierrick Dube, who has 22 goals this season, didn't get an invite, but I could see him getting some playing time at the end of the season if Washington does initiate a sell-off. He's earned it, after all.

17. Another Hershey player I want to shoutout: Hendrix Lapierre, who hit the ground running in his return to the AHL. He did what he could to stand out in his lengthy call-up with D.C. and would make the most of limited ice time, and after being returned, he picked up where he left off with some strong play. He's tracking to make the full-time jump next season, in my opinion.

One final thought, so 18. And, of course, it just doesn't get old watching prospects Ryan Leonard and Andrew Cristall. Leonard stayed red-hot with three points in back-to-back wins over Macklin Celebrini and Boston University, and Cristall's 77 points rank third in the WHL as he has points in 25 of his last 27 games.

Watching how much Leonard loves to score is a whole other fun topic, too.